Hi folks: I'm looking at E-bikes mainly due to the fact that my truck died. I can't afford to spend big money, so my bike will be coming from a Police Auction, or something similar. I've been perusing things a bit, and it seems to me that half of the drives avialable don't free-wheel. I'm looking for a drive that can. I'm familiar with motors and speed controllers thru my interests in radio controlled planes, so I have a decent background there. What I need is a good free-wheeling drive that can be basically bolted onto the frame (I'm not mechanically inept either, tho machine work is unfortunately beyond me)
I guess what I need is a good FAQ guide to help me. Remmeber that my key is low cost! I'll be using the DeWalt A123 cells. I have them for my planes, so this isn't "the" factor.
Brad
Hi Brad,
Unfortunatley we don't have a ebike FAQ, yet! Have a look at the www.ebikes.ca website for a reasonable general intro, though it is biased towards hub motors.
Sounds like your half way there with your RC stuff. Direct hub motors generally don't freewheel for obvious reasons. Almost all geared motors for ebikes do freewheel. There some real lo cost options if your prepared to do make your own bike from bits. The currie drive freewheels see below, as does the cyclone system. In addition there also a whole range of hub motors.
http://www.evdeals.com/
http://www.cyclone-usa.com/index.php
NickF23,
We do have an FAQ area on the site. Take a look at the menu on the right, or click this FAQ link.
Chas S.
My Bicycle Pages
Thanks Chas, I'd not seen that. No electric bike faq though.
:?
It was my hope we would get some volunteer EV Advisors to create such a thing.
I believe it would make our site easier to navigate.
Regards,
Board Moderator
Moderators are community volunteers who help keep V is for Voltage Forums running smoothly, and provide forum support.
Cheers,
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Hi everyone,
I'm new to this forum and to electric bikes, and I could really use some help finding an appropriate bike for a heavy rider who lives in a hilly area. I'm 265 lbs, and the climb to my house is about 450 feet in the space of a mile with some fairly steep grades along the way. I've been considering the most powerful BionX system (mounted on a Montague Paratrooper folding bike), but some of what I've read suggests it may not be of much use to a heavy rider on steep hills. I'd sure love to hear the experiences of any heavy riders out there who have a pedelec that works for them!
Thanks in advance for any insights!
Rick
Hi Rick and welcome to the forum. Looks like we are about the same age but you have me by 85 pounds or so. Your local terrain also sounds like what I am trying to deal with. I tried a 350 Bionx on a 26" Dahon folder and found it to be inadequate on the steeper hills, so for you I'm sure it would be underpowered also. I currently have a elationebike BB drive on my Kona Blast and it too being 250w and geared more for flatter terrain is great for almost all my needs, but doesn't do it for me on the steep stuff. I will be getting some of the new elationebike stuff to try this Summer including a larger watt motor and the ability to custom tailor my gearing a bit more than the standard version.
If this doesn't do it I have a final fall back idea. I like gearing for hills so it won't be an overvolted hub motor. I also like to have all the stock bike gear drive in tact and the ability to use my rear rack for hauling. This desire dictates front drive without using a hub motor on the rear (Cyclone won't fit my bike either unless I mount a 24" wheel on the rear). I don't really want to deal with a 90 pound 72 volt X5. The BMC geared hub motor holds some promise but longevity of it's plastic gears when overvolted is still in question. I really don't like the thought of a hub motor locking up when the planetary gears let go. My doctor says I shouldn't fall down too often anymore.
I hope I don't have to go this route but just in case. My dream (or is it nightmare) parts list so far includes at least 750 w motor, Surley Pugsley front fork, Sturmey Archer 8 speed internal shift disc brake hub. My thinking is the 135mm spacing of this oddball fork will allow the use of a motor driven rear hub mounted on the front fork. About $400 plus batteries. Minimum 750w, 8 speeds, built in freewheel in the hub, if that doesn't do it........I'll have to forget about it.
I will also be posting my test results of the new elaltionebike stuff in my blog.
`
We are in the process of doing some EV Collaborative Hand Books.
The key word is Collaborative, we need help from our Community Members.
There is a lot of good information from very knowledgeable people on this site, and we're trying to make the information easily accessible, especially for our new Community Members or Newbies.
More on this experiment will be posted latter, but without the collaboration of our Community Members or EV advisor's it won't work.
Regards,
Board Moderator
Moderators are community volunteers who help keep V is for Voltage Forums running smoothly, and provide forum support.
Cheers,
Board Moderator